ATHENS — Tate Ratledge stood tall behind the podium at Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall, looking as confident as he sounded.

The 6-foot-6, 315-pound redshirt junior guard is among the three returning starters anchoring what’s expected to be one of the most powerful offensive lines of the Kirby Smart era.

It’s a unit that Ratledge says has grown even closer in the wake of the well-documented tragic accident that claimed the lives of recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy and UGA lineman Devin Willock.

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Ratledge revealed a tattoo on his inner right wrist with Willock’s initials, explaining that his former teammate is ingrained with this Georgia football team.

“It’s something that will never leave our minds, he’s one of our brothers, one of our best friends,” Ratledge said. “We have a picture of him in the offensive line room right now, (and) I have this on my wrist for him.

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